You wrote:
> I did decide to just send the ESB kits out as parts instead of assembled.
> Getting smarter in my old age. ;-)
This is what I'm talking about. Do the design work, verify it works, and
find an apprentice to pawn off the logistics on... Ditto for some of the
design and verification if possible. Leverage, Clay, leverage. Even Yoda
couldn't take on Darth Vader ;-)
> [Nightmare]
> I think that Nightmare will end up being 1 PCB that plugs into the 68000
> socket. If I can get the Nighmare data into a format that the OKI ADPCM
> chip likes that'll be cool. I'll put all the counters, decode, and
> spinner-knob circuitry into a Lattice PLD. There's a little analog in
> there too, but not much. Should make for a tidy board. Surface mount
> could be pretty cool 'cause it'd be so small, but I think I need to do
> through-hole to be practical. I'll probably just do a run of 25. The cost
> will be higher, but I doubt I'd be able to get rid of more than that...
I think you're underestimating this one. EVERYONE will want the never
released Atari game, esp. if game play is cool. Certainly everyone in VAPS
with a Tron or DoT will want one, since they have the controls already
> I'll let you in on the rest of my pet projects:
Other project includes the multigame Midway hack (Sean is doing the leg
work), the multigame Sega vector hack (the chips can be broken), the multigame
System I hack, the combo Wizard of Wor/Gorf/Space Zap/Roby Roto hack, the
combo Midway 8080 hack, the combo cinematronics sound board hack (ick, analog
crap), the combo Zaxxon/Super Zaxxon/Congo Bongo/Future Spy hack, yada yada
yada.
This is why leverage is important ;-)
> 1)
> 68000 based Vector-game board. Output compatible with WG Vector monitors.
> Support for trackball(or spinner) and 16 buttons. Color. Modern parts.
> Full programming information. Small, cheap, comes with 1 game (less than
> $100 fully loaded). Hopefully other people will code for it! Comes with
> libraries, C compiler, etc.
This sounds insanely cool! Programming the old hardware is a long term goal
of mine. Might be cool to start with C instead of assembly ;-)
Stick a 68040 on there so there is a hope of emulating the older games in
software...
> 2)
> Raster Monitor tester. Done, needs a PCB. Maybe revisit the code one more
> time...
Yup, waiting for one ;-) Don't forget the CAT box work alike project.
> 3)
> Track-man. Single chip that when connected to joystick(s) emulates a
> trackball or spinner knob with both quadrature and dir/clk outputs. (For
> those people that really want multi-games without having a
> trackball/spinner control panel.) Also will take clk/dir input and output
> quadrature and vice-versa. (Just a "Small Matter Of Programming"... ;-)
Part of MCR hack, yes? May as well lump in the Midway encoder logic, since
these little boards are always missing
> 4)
> Figure out this Fluke 9010A Unit Under Test microprocessor troubleshooter.
>
> 5)
> Figure out, collect, and assemble the parts for the Tek 1240 logic analyzer.
>
> 6)
> Vectrex clone PCB with built-in multicart and WG-output. (This was
> originally a function of #1, but they're a little too different to do
> properly...)
I was noodling about this this morning. I think #1 would be more cool ;-)
> That's the big ones. ;-) Finish "Moon Lander" etc...
How hard is vec hacking? I was thinking Omega Race might be cool (hell it
may already exist)
> Now you should be *really* worried... I do actually get things completed
> from time-to-time though... *laugh*
;-) You can ask Rick about me and my projects ;-)
> I still might send your box. Depends on if I find Pong tonight. If
> nothing else I really need the extra space in the garage. (I still have
> about 100 square feet of Atari stuff stacked chest-high from Travis and I
> buying all of Dave Wiebenson's old stuff...)
You call Clay. If you want to toss some of that Atari stuff in, the Ray
mueseum is ready and waiting ;-)
Ray
